Exam 3 - Gas Exchange and Transport Flashcards
partial pressure
defines diffusion of gas b/c allows comparisons of gas activities in both liquid and gas environments
Henry’s law
relationship b/w partial pressure and the amount of gas in physical solution
C = aP
C = concentration a = solubility P = partial pressure
Dalton’s law
Px = mole fraction of x (Fx)x total pressure (Pt)
-if the gas is a mixture, total pressure is the sum of the pressures exerted by each of the gases
talk about the partial pressure of water and its role in ventilation
PH2O in lungs = 47 mmHg -> lowers the partial pressure of the other gases in the lungs
describe the relationship between solubility and molecular weight
diffusion is inversely proportional to the square root of MW -> lighter gases achieve equilibrium faster
-for CO2 and O2, the diffusion ratio is 0.85, and in the gas phase, CO2 is 15% slower than O2
what determines the rate at which a gas diffuses through a liquid?
its MW + its solubility in the liquid
-CO2 (while slower than O2 in gas phase) is 20x faster than O2 in water (higher solubility)
Fick’s law of diffusion
V = [DA(P1-P2)]/X
D = diffusion coefficient A = surface area of membrane P1-P2 = partial pressure on either side of membrane X = membrane thickness
explain the pathophysiology of hyaline membrane disease
get thicker basement membranes -> low O2 saturation b/c less gas can move across
-fix by treatment with (+) pressure ventilators
what is membrane resistance?
1/Dm (physical) - resistance to diffusion imposed by the alveolar-capillary interface, plasma and erythrocyte membranes
what is chemical reaction resistance?
1/(theta x Vc) - resistance to diffusion imposed by the chemical reaction of O2 with Hb
theta = volume of O2 combining in 1 min w/ Hb in 1 mL of blood at partial pressure difference of 1 mmHg
Vc = pulmonary capillary blood volume
theta x Vc = rxn rate of O2 and Hb for the entire lung
what is diffusive resistance?
1/DL = membrane resistance (1/Dm) + chemical rxn resistance (1/(theta x Vc))
when Hb is saturated, what becomes the major factor in overall resistance?
theta - it depends on the % saturation of Hb, and when Hb is saturated, theta becomes small and chemical resistance will be the major factor in overall resistance
why is chemical resistance not important in O2 exchange?
b/c blood entering the lung, Hb is far from being saturated
why can chemical resistance be a factor in movement of CO2?
because reaction rate for CO2 release into the blood is much slower
how is it that exchange of respiratory gases is highly efficient even with these resistances?
the time for gas equilibrium to occur (250 ms) vs. the time required for the RBC to transit the pulmonary capillary (750 ms)
can exercise lower the RBC transit time to a dangerous rate? are there scenarios when it might?
nah - safety factor built into transit time in normal person
- if increased diffusive resistance, then end-capillary PO2 may not reach alveolar PO2 -> attenuated by exercise
- if high altitude (alveolar PO2 lower) -> increase in time for equilibration, can be a problem in exercise
what is diffusion capacity?
DL - the volume of gas moving per unit time for a given difference in partial pressure of a gas
DL = V/ (Palv - Pcap)
describe the physiological and pathological factors affecting diffusion capacity
- DL increases w/ body surface area
- DL increases w/ training
- DL decreases w/ thickening of alveolar-capillary membrane (pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial edema)
- DL decreases due to decrease in alveolar surface area (emphysema)